Breaking: H-1B Lottery May Be Replaced by Wage-Based Selection

The U.S. H-1B visa process is on the verge of its most significant shake-up in decades.
On August 8, the White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) signed off on a proposed rule that could end the random lottery and replace it with a wage-level weighted selection system.

Opinion: The American Flag Flies For Democracy, Not Against It : NPR

What’s Changing:

Current system: H-1B visas are distributed via a random lottery, regardless of salary level
Proposed system: Priority will go to positions with higher wages, aligning with the Department of Labor’s Prevailing Wage (PW) levels
- PW Level IV & III → Almost guaranteed selection
- PW Level II → Lower chances of approval
- PW Level I → Effectively eliminated from consideration

This mirrors an earlier Trump-era policy aimed at prioritizing “high-skilled” and “high-paying” roles, now re-emerging with renewed momentum.

For Employers:

Tech, AI, finance, and engineering firms offering top-tier salaries will gain a competitive edge
Small businesses, startups, and research institutions may struggle to secure visas for talent at lower wage levels
Strategic budget and role adjustments may be necessary to remain competitive

For Global Talent:

Skilled professionals at the upper end of the pay scale will see improved odds
Early-career professionals and post-graduates could face new barriers, particularly if salaries don’t meet higher wage thresholds

What’s Next:

The public release of the rule is expected soon. If enacted, application strategies for FY2026 will need a major overhaul. Employers may need to:

Reassess salary bands for H-1B candidates
Prioritize critical high-impact roles
Align offers with PW Level III & IV to secure selection

Conclusion:

The H-1B process is shifting from chance to compensation. Higher wages will drive visa success. Organizations relying on global talent must prepare now to adapt hiring and compensation strategies.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About Anywr

Anywr is a French international group specializing in the global Talent mobility and international recruitment. The company supports businesses in the search and integration of international talent, offering a complete range of services from sourcing to settlement. Anywr has a network of over 300 consultants in 16 countries. A member of the FrenchTech 120, the group is now composed of nearly 900 employees worldwide, with 400 in France, serving the largest French and international groups. Anywr is an innovative and responsible company, committed to its communities, which puts its expertise and solutions at the service of social integration projects and diversity. ANYWR has adopted the status of a Mission-led Company (Loi Pacte) since June 2021.

Do you have a mobility project for your teams? Contact us!